Reversible rotary steam-engine



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

G. E. WOODARD.

REVERSIBLE ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 594,924 Patentd- Dec. 7. 1897.

3 Sheets--Sheet 2 (No Model.)

G. E. WOODARD. REVERSIBLE ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Dec. 7, 189? b V v. w 7% We (No Model.) a Sh eet-s-Sheet' 3.

G.. E. WOODARD. REVERSIBLE ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

No. 594,924. Patented Dec. 7, 1897. I

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THE annals PETERS co. mo'rouma. WASHINGTON. n cy UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE E. W OODARD, OF SUGAR GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSIBLE ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,924, dated December '7, 1897. Application filed April 19, 1897. Serial No. 632,847. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WOODARD, a

citizen of the United States,residing at Sugar Grove, in the county of Warren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in reversible rotary steam-engines; and the object is to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of the same.

To this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim. 1

In the accompanying drawings the same reference-characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved reversible rotary steam-engine'. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the steam-chest cover removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the steam-chest and reversing-valve removed. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the valve mechanism. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the plungers.

1 represents the horizontal base-plate, cast integral with the vertical frame 2, which is formed with a circular transverse orifice 3, constituting the cylinder of the engine, and 4 4 represent the cylinder-heads, removably secured by bolts 5 5 to the opposite parallel sides of the frame 2.

6 represents the rotary disk piston fixed on the shaft 7, journaled in the integral bearings 8 8 in the cylinder-heads 4 4. The diameter of this disk piston is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder in which it rotates, and its periphery is divided by equidistant radial transverse rectangular recesses 9 9, formed with smaller alined radial recesses 10 10.

12 12 represent rectangular plungers arranged in the recesses 9, their outer curved ends abutting against the inner face of the cylinder, while their inner ends rest upon the coiled springs 13, located in the alined recesses l0 and which serve to force the plungers outwardly and insure a steam-tight joint between the outer end of the plungers and v the face of the cylinder.

14 represents the steam-inlet passage, and 15 a vertical transverse recess formed in the rectangular portion 16 of the frame, which receives a vertical sliding block 17, the lower end of which rests upon the periphery of the piston, being held in intimate contact therewith by means of the spiral springs 18 18, resting upon the top of said block, and held in contact therewith by means of the cap 19, secured in the upper end of the recess 15.

20 represents an oil-passage in said cap communicating with an oil-cup 21, fixed in the upper end of said cap, and through this means the piston is lubricated.

22 represents the exhaust-passage communicating with a cylindrical chamber 23, and two ports 24 and 25 lead from the inlet-passage 14 and extend on opposite sides of the block 17 and communicate with the cylinder 3.

26 represents a semicircular valve mounted on a transverse valve-stem 27 and adapted to alternately cover the ports 24 and 25. It is also adapted to partially or wholly close one port and act as a throttle-valve, while the opposite port remains entirely closed.

29 represents the throttle-lever fixed on one end of the valve-stem 27, and its upper end is provided with the usual pivoted grip-pawl 28, which engages the segmental rack 29, fixed to the side of the steam-chest.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is v A rotary steam-engine, comprising the horizontal base 1 and integral frame 2 provided with the transverse cylindrical orifice 3, the inlet-passage 14, the vertical recess 15, the inlet-ports 24 and 25, and the exhaust-port 22 in combination with the rotary disk piston 6, having the radial recesses 9 and the alined recesseslO, the springs 13 arranged in said recesses 10, the plungers l2 fitted to the reclose said ports 24 and 25, substantially as cesses 9, the block 17 mounted in the Vertishown and described. 10 cal recess 15, the springs 18 and the cap 19 In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my provided with the oil-passage 20 and the oilsignature in presence of two Witnesses.

5 cup fixed to said cap, the steam-chest formed GEORGE E. WOODARD.

with the cylindrical chamber 23 and the semi- Witnesses: circular Valve 26 mounted in said chamber J. O. HAMILTON,

and arranged to alternately 0r simultaneously 1 E. G. VVOODARD. 

